Things to do in  Venice

The crown jewel of Venice, St. Mark’s Basilica blends elements of Gothic, Byzantine, Romanesque, and Renaissance architecture—testimony to the city’s political and economic dominance that spanned centuries. Topped by soaring domes and featuring an interior of shimmering mosaics, the church is so opulent that it is known as the Chiesa d’Oro, or the Golden Church. Today, it is one of the city’s symbols and the top attraction in St. Mark’s Square.

The powerful Doges ruled the Venetian Empire from the Gothic confines of the Doge’s Palace until the fall of Venice in 1797. The sprawling residence was meant to impress visitors as they sailed through the lagoon and landed at St. Mark’s Square, and the Doges ruled with an iron fist—often meting out justice in the courtrooms and prisons here. The marble facade and art-filled interiors continue to inspire awe today.

St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco), often referred to as “the drawing room of Europe,” is one of the most famous squares in Italy. The geographic and cultural heart of Venice—with St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace at one end, the campanile towering above, and the Procuratie palaces’ colonnaded arcade lining three sides—this elegant piazza is steeped in history. Soak in the square’s Renaissance splendor at one of its many coveted café tables.

One of the most famous bridges in Venice, and indeed in Italy, the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) is the oldest and grandest of the bridges that cross the city’s Grand Canal. But the Rialto isn’t just a public convenience that links the San Marco and San Polo districts; it’s also a stone marvel that adds to Venice’s elegant cityscape and is home to two rows of small stores and one of the city’s finest viewpoints.

Venice is a city built on water, and the Grand Canal (Canale Grande) is its bustling main street. Lined with sumptuous Venetian palaces and crowded with gondolas, water taxis, and vaporetti (public water buses), this thoroughfare is a feast for the senses. The Grand Canal winds its way through the central neighborhoods of Venice from the Santa Lucia train station to St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco), passing under the iconic Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) along the way, and functions as the scenic main artery for transporting both people and goods around the City of Canals.

Venice is made up of over 100 small islands, but “the Venice islands” generally refer to the three most famous in the Venetian lagoon: Murano, Burano, and Torcello. Murano, just north of Venice proper, is known for its glassblowing workshops. Further north, Burano has canals lined with brightly painted fishermen’s houses and is home to traditional lace artisans. Its neighboring island of Torcello is believed to be the first populated island in the Venetian lagoon.

Several things set Burano apart from other islands in Venice, and not just its geography, thanks to its location in the Venetian lagoon’s outer reaches. This humble island shows a completely different side of the city, trading busy streets and opulent churches for vividly colorful fisher’s houses and laid-back canals. Burano offers a breath of fresh air for visitors to Venice, but also a chance to learn about the proud local craft of choice, lace-making.

Of Venice’s 100-plus outlying islands, the group that forms Murano is the most famous. This tight cluster of islets has been the center of the city’s historic glassmaking industry since 1291. Today, travelers visit Murano to see how master artisans blow glass into exquisite stemware, chandeliers, vases, and sculptures. The island is also home to the Glass Museum (Museo del Vetro), which traces the art back to ancient Egypt.

As poignant as it is beautiful, Venice’s white limestone Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) spans the Rio di Palazzo canal between the interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) and the New Prisons just opposite. One of the Floating City’s most famous bridges, the 17th-century landmark is most striking when viewed from outside, but inside, its small windows offer unique glimpses of the city—just as convicts passing over the bridge once saw it.

To get a glimpse into authentic Venice, a visit to the city’s historic outdoor Rialto Fish Market (Mercato di Rialto) is a must. Venetians have been purchasing their fish and seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables, and other foods at the Rialto Market since 1097, making it one of the most long-lived aspects of daily life in the Floating City.

One of Italy’s most prestigious performance venues, La Fenice Opera House (Teatro La Fenice) has been at the heart of Venice’s cultural scene for centuries. While its storied history since opening in 1792 includes fires and restorations, it remains a much-loved venue known for its ornate interiors and world-class shows. Come to take guided tours behind the scenes or attend opera and ballet productions in a truly historical setting.

The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute was constructed in the mid-17th century to give thanks to the Virgin Mary, after a deadly bout of bubonic plague ripped through Venice, wiping out a third of the Floating City’s population. Today, the votive church—known as La Salute, meaning “health” in Italian—is a recognizable landmark that houses masterpieces by Titian and Tintoretto.

Tucked away from the crowded piazzas of Venice, Campo Santa Maria Formosa is a charming little square in the Castello district. With a handful of cafés, a co-op market, and local shops, Campo Santa Maria Formosa offers a nice reprieve from the tourist hustle of Venice and allows a glimpse into local life.

Leap back in time at the prestigious, yet under-the-radar, Correr Museum (Museo Correr), which charts Venice’s history from early Renaissance times to around the 18th century. Paintings, sculptures, and artistic artefacts fill the space, which is split into different sections covering neoclassical rooms, Venetian culture, and a picture gallery. Lovers of Italian art history will find much of interest here, while those taking advantage of free entry with their Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) admission can explore Venice’s past.

Cannaregio is one of Venice’s largest and most populated districts. Best known as the city’s Jewish neighborhood, it’s home to several synagogues, as well as the striking Madonna dell’Orto Church (Chiesa della Madonna dell'Orto), and the Renaissance beauty of Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli. In addition to admiring historical landmarks, you should come to see the canal-lined Fondamenta della Misericordia, where lively cafés, bars, and restaurants create the perfect atmosphere for bar-hopping and people-watching.